Counsel, Employment

For more than 70 years, MasterBrand has been shaping the places where people come together, enriching lives and creating meaningful memories for our customers. We are the #1 manufacturer of residential cabinets in North America, and our associates produce the most comprehensive portfolio of superior cabinetry products for the kitchen, bath and other parts of the home. Come see why our associates love working at MasterBrand.

Job Description:

The Counsel, Employment will report to the Sr. Counsel, Labor and Employment and collaborate closely with the VP, Head of Global Ethics and Compliance. The Counsel will provide compliance counseling to the Company on all aspects of the employee life cycle, immigration, workplace safety, and workers compensation matters. Additionally, the Counsel will manage and lead internal investigations and administrate the Company’s anonymous hotline system and its related processes in close collaboration with a cross-functional oversight team. The Counsel will proactively identify key trends and provide training to relevant parts of the Company. This role requires a detail-oriented professional with strong analytical skills and the ability to handle sensitive matters with discretion and integrity.

Responsibilities:

• Provide legal counsel on employment-related matters, including hiring, termination, discrimination, harassment, wage and hour issues, and employee benefits.
• Draft, review, and update employment contracts, policies, and handbooks to ensure compliance with current laws and regulations.
• Assist with managing outside counsel on employment-related legal matters.
• Collaborate with HR to develop and deliver training programs on employment law and company policies.
• Assist in the development and implementation of HR strategies and initiatives aligned with the overall business strategy.
• Oversee and/or conduct thorough and impartial investigations into employee relations issues, including but not limited to employee misconduct, discrimination, harassment, and policy violations.
• Oversee and administer the Company’s EthicsPoint hotline database, using analytics tools to proactively manage risk, and developing processes to ensure proper triaging of complaints and timely investigations.
• Provide legal advice and guidance on investigation processes, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and company policies.
• Prepare detailed investigation reports and present findings to senior management and other stakeholders.
• Develop and implement investigation protocols and best practices to ensure consistency and fairness in the investigative process.
• Assist in the development and delivery of training programs related to investigations.
• Stay current with changes in laws and regulations affecting HR and compliance investigations and advise the company accordingly.
• Support the legal team in other areas as needed, including litigation support and risk management.
• Periodically travel (10-25% of the time) to attend Company functions, or to conduct investigations or trainings.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Active bar membership in good standing.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience practicing labor and employment law at a law firm or in a corporate/in-house setting.
• Demonstrated experience conducting investigations and working with hotline systems.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and investigative techniques.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with the utmost discretion.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with individuals at all levels of the organization.
• High ethical standards and a commitment to integrity and professionalism.
• Fluency in Spanish is not required, but a plus.

Equal Employment Opportunity

MasterBrand Cabinets LLC is an equal opportunity employer. MasterBrand Cabinets LLC’s policy is not to discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability/handicap status, marital status, military status, sexual orientation, genetic history or information, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. MasterBrand Cabinets LLC also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is also MasterBrand Cabinets LLC’s policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.

Reasonable Accommodations

MasterBrand Cabinets LLC is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you have a disability and wish to discuss potential accommodations related to applying for employment, please contact us at [email protected].